Muddied Tears, Adultery and Jesus Christ...

The anger that flashed in her eyes was like a lightning bolt as she stood there ashamed and humiliated, accused of being caught in adultery. She recognized her accusers as previous customers of her trade but was silent as to not be slapped in the face had she spoken. The anger was quickly replaced by a growing fear in the pit of her stomach as she knew what her judgment would be, death by stoning.


She had been dragged out of her home and was now on her knees before this crowd that had gathered. She knew all to well that it meant her time on this earth was about up. She tried to recognize the pain that she would soon experience as the stones would be thrown by her accusers was soon to be all too real. First, they would throw the stones to try to break her legs and her arms saving her head for last so she would feel every little pebble of pain for her sins. A sin that was so great that it was only punishable by death even if death came by the hands of those who had participated in her willing or unwilling sinfulness. They knew her.



She was a throw-away, something to be used and discarded as they had done so many times before only this was too be her last time. The crowd parted, as they half-dragged her, pushing her and shoved her to ground before a man who was sitting, to whom she had only seen from a distance before.

They, her accusers, said to the sitting man, "this woman was taken in adultery, in the act of adultery" and she felt that the sting of her past beginning to strike her heart and her very soul and something seemed to break in her. There was something different though about this man they had brought her to. She didn't feel the lustful gaze as she had from her accusers before. She didn't feel the evil desire and the urge to punish herself by sacrificing her body as she had done in times past because there was something so pure about this man. And while her accusers were awaiting his answers she felt the weight of her sins upon her soul and it dragged her to the earth because she knew that before death would come and she desperately needed to make things right with her God.

And as she lay there, her face to the hard, rocky ground covered by the mud of her tears as she heard them say "Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?" as she awaited the impact of the first stone. She was feeling that is what she deserved and even though the pain would be too much to bear, she felt death would release her from the pain inflicted on herself, and by others.

She was weeping now, her tears coming from years of abuse and blackened eyes that she had thought dried up long ago. She felt the man stand and strangely he kneeled down near her head and thru her weakness she raised her head up enough to see this pure man's finger begin to write upon the ground in the pool of her tears, as her accusers begin to grow impatient and louder in their accusations they were suddenly quieted as he spoke.

She had never heard a man speak so quietly and yet with so much authority. She laying there had never felt, in the presence of a man, what she felt coming from this man. It was if her entire past had been poured out of her, and she felt a pureness and innocence she had not felt in a long time come into her soul.
She hadn't felt like this since her mother would take her to the temple to pray as a child.

The man stood up and said,” Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone" and she tensed but didn't feel as had before. She was in the presence of someone who was greater than anybody she had known before. Maybe he was a king or a prince but even greater than that she felt clean and pure and no king or prince on this earth could have ever done that for her...


She felt the man kneel by her again and continue writing in her pooled tears, his finger dirty with tears and sand. And she lie there for what seemed her entire lifetime but different inside, and she felt the man stand and say to her, "Woman, where are thine accusers, has no man condemned thee?"

And from somewhere deep inside her soul a light begin to shine, and she trembling stood before her Lord, and said "No"....and these words would carry her the rest of her life when He said, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

In life there will always be those who are ready to point our faults and failures out,but there is only One who can forgive us our sins. When we look at our life and sins we have commited or the sin that may have been forced upon us, I would never want my name or my sins written in the sand or have the rock in my hand. I would rather be the one at his feet finding forgiveness, I would rather be the standing in the need of prayer.

The truth is that everyone has sinned and come short of the Glory of God...

It's not our responsibility to identify the sinner but it is our responsibility to find forgiveness for ourselves in Him and it is our responsibility to tell others about the forgiveness we have found in Him...

One Woman said.."Come and See a Man"....He is the Light of this World...

John 8
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life

Just a thought...

Atheism, Planetary System and God...

My son was in conversation with a fourteen year old "Atheist" at
school a day or so ago and was told God didn't exist.

To which Matt replied out of the entire planetary system we live in
why was there only one planet with life on it?

Why was there only one planet with the right gravitational law to support
the life that lived on it?

Why is there only one planet where there are mountains, streams, and oceans and the Moon which makes waters change?



And I thought his response to the acclaimed young Atheist was simple and intriguing.

And then I realized a truth about those who profess "Atheism" since there is not a value of absolutes to support it. Atheism is a belief that really doesn't exist itself, which is exactly what they usually accuse Christianity of. It might be applied or proclaimed but there is nothing to support it. Science can't support it when it comes to absolutes because there is no value in theory only opinion. It is actually a faith in its own right. Interesting enough, those that apply it to themselves are usually against the word Faith. The past transgressions of men, the misplaced beliefs and crimes of humanity, the Atheist' mantra of "How can God allow?" is always at the forefront of their argument. To even say "How Can God" is a confession of belief...

Recently in a facebook conversation a young man was accusing God of killing innocents, being used to wage wars, and so on...and I found it somewhat humorous and ironic that the young man who was so convinced in his thoughts against God, was a member in the United States Military who excutes judgement also...

In another conversation with a man who had once professed atheism, said the deeper he studied scientific evidence there could be NO other explanation than that God really existed. He came back to God and found his true Faith...

It may be that "Atheism" is just another way for humans to buck the system of core absolutes. And like the Nat that bugs the horse it is just a way for some people to find a reason to be a societal abnormality in which some find comfort because religion or life hasn't worked out for them.

The secrets most come to realize is that Religion never works out for anybody and life no matter how much one has or does not have won't bring true satisfaction to the soul...

But God has always supplied what religion and life can not through a real relationship with him.
A Faith in God, born out struggle into fulfillment, will satisfy the hungry soul, bring relief to the repressed, and freedom to the enslaved...

The circumstances of our lives may not always change and while men or goverments may control the body... only God can bring freedom to the soul...



Thought for the Day... Kudos' to Matt!!!

The File that Reminded Me of Life...

I was organizing my desktop at my office today and moving files around, creating work folders and just making things happen. I was upbeat, on top of my game, taking the bull by the horns and then I went to move an excel file and it said I couldn't do it.

The FILE was in use by another program and couldn't be moved. It slowed my progress down. I had to open, save, save as, close to be able to move it. I then went on to my next task and BAM!!!

"The Excel File is being used by another program and CANNOT be moved" and it struck how often we move thru life expecting that we can just Change things without allowing our past to be closed.

We try to manipulate change, often at our own expense of hurt, shame, or pain trying to rewrite things into great folder of life so we don't have to see them when all we are really doing it hiding them among other files.

I learned today I can't even change the name of a file when it's opened and being used by another program. How many of us has tried to change the name of our past just to be able to tuck it away so we can't remember what it used to be. I have...

But in my folly of trying to organize my files I realized two truths...

The First Truth;
One File can't be used, manipulated or renamed when it's being used by two different programs...

The Second Truth;
I realized that there are only TWO programmers that work on this earth...

Myself or God...

And if I am the file He wants to use then He can't change, rewrite or rename if I have it opened in my own program, for my own purposes, for my own ways...and if I try to change it, it rewrites itself because it won't recognize my
program and then it's lost...

But I want GOD to be the Programmer, File Creator, File Renamer' and File Deleter in my Folder of Life...I want Him to write my future...Write the Changes that need to be made... and Delete out of my life those things that will block my future in Him...

We are made in His Image...and Formed by His Hands... Let's stay with the Original Programmer...

Anyways...That's my thought for the day...

Welcome Back to me...

Wow...I haven't visited here in awhile.....

I recvd an email a few days ago and it brought me back here...

Give me a few days much has happened and I will share..

God Bless...
Randy

Circumstances...Everybody has them....

The Circumstance is a condition or a fact. It is one event determining another. How many times do you use the word circumstance? The facts or circumstances surrounding the situation led to the final conclusion. Something happened that could have been avoided had the circumstances been different. So many times we use circumstance to provide a basis of conclusions for many things that happen to us but can we really change the outcome?

Circumstance and choice seem to be related to one another. Many times our choices define our circumstances which in turn direct the outcome of our situation. There are moments when we look backwards in time to realize that had our choice's been different the circumstances surrounding us would probably be to our benefit rather than to our demise. The Apostle Paul said "Oh wretched or miserable man that I am" after writing that there is at times a war within our mind and while we want to be free from it there is only one answer available that can deliver us from ourselves which is Jesus Christ.

The fulfillment of the circumstances surrounding the Life of Christ were well laid out before He came to this World and they received Him not. The choice to reject Him as their predecessors had done was to thrust themselves into a labyrinth of circumstances that cost a entire race of people millions while also bringing life to millions at the same time. The choices we make will always give birth circumstances that will only grow with time.

We may not be able to change the circumstance but we can make the right choice.

Take some time today to review some choice's you are making, count the cost and see if the sum is worth the circumstance.

Just a thought...

A Reason...

The life is empty of love and void of living. The eyes are empty spaces of documented failure and the brain is storing all of the files of the past. The pain is undeniable and the tears are always real. The footsteps are hollow echoes in the halls of shame and everywhere the eyes look there is the mirrored image of the same failures and defeats sickly smiling back.

The scars are massed on the heart and it is void of feeling because it can’t be touched. The soul is a dark chamber of secrets and the door is sealed shut with rusty nails beaten down by the hammer of life.

“Who has a reason to love the unloved anymore?” is the question I am faced with when I look into the face of the damned and here myself answer “I do”

My reason for loving is not an impure thought or motive but the desire to see the light glisten in the eye. The spring of the step that knows that the path of hope is well lit. The reason I can love is because despair did not win my soul with deceit or the bitter taste of life. It was the sweetness of Grace and Mercy that dried my tears and pealed the layers of scars off my heart until His Blood flowed into my life and filled me with a reason.

Just a thought...

Howdy...

Hey I need to BLOG... I am facebooking... Forum Swimming... and everything else and I need to update this blog and add some friends...

Soon...Soon...Soon... Soon...

Back in the Drivers Seat...

Sorry it has been so long since I've updated this blog...

Some great things are happening...See you Soon...

Randy

Life...Life...Life...

Life for all it's ups and downs is certainly better than the being dead...

My wife and I are going on a cruise to CaboSanLucas in Mexico here in a short while and we are really looking forward to it...

Life when I think about it is really full when you serve God and live for him fully.

I can't begin to tell you about the blessings He has recently poured into our lives and I say poured because the Bible says he has storehouses in Heaven and will open the windows when He blesses us...

True there are still battles to be fought and won. Troubles and Trials come but knowing Him brings peace into every situation...

The Financial Blessings of God are true when we are faithful to Him. I know it sounds cliché but it is true. Give and it shall be given... Give encouragement, receive encouragement...Give Time, receive time..Give of your finances and receive finances...

I recently attended a meeting and because of my work I was asked to speak to them and the first two things I told people was I go to church faithfully and I pay my tithe.

Those two things combined with daily prayer have changed me...I believe that God is taking care of everything...I trust God to provide...I trust God to heal...I trust God to make things right... I go to bed and sleep peacefully because I know WHO is in control... I don't have to read the horoscopes to see how my day will be... I don't have to go to Oprah or Dr. Phil to feel good...I feel good because I know WHO makes the day...

I encourage you today... Find God for yourself...read the Bible.. and be Blessed...

Randy...

ps... Read the Book of the Acts of the Apostles...It will change your life!!

If you have any questions please email me...

The Opportunity of a Lifetime...

The doorbell rings and there is a group of people standing outside with signs and balloons shouting your name. You've won the Sweepstakes and there is a huge check with your name on it. You are elated and surprised and scared all at the same time. The bills have been piling up; the creditors have been leaving messages and your behind on your mortgage. Your relationships have been strained to say the least and your wife has been on the verge of leaving you, friends have avoided you and those you trusted have been talking about you. It really is your feel the opportunity you have been waiting for. It will solve all your problems and heal the past relationship issues. It will give you time to work everything out with your wife and you'll be able to put all your past problems behind you. The opportunity of a lifetime will heal everything and make all things new.

You hear the sounding of a familiar bell sounding and it's time to get ready for church. You realize the opportunity of a lifetime was nothing more than a dream. You wake up and bills are still sitting on your desk, your wife is at her mothers and your friend’s well they aren't there to help. You get dressed and go to church only to hear the preacher another sermon on help, healing and happiness. The altar call is made and you sit there remembering your dream and the big check with your name on it and the Opportunity of a Lifetime at the altar passes you by once more.

There is some truth to this when people who feel there isn't help sit on the pew at church and never realize how close they truly are to the Opportunity of a Lifetime...

Jesus said "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.


Jesus is knocking.... it's time to answer the door...



Revelations 3:20

Life in Oklahoma...

Well Life in Oklahoma has been great...

We have settled in Yukon and are attending Life Tabernacle in Mustang...

It is a Great Church, Michelle and the Boys are really into it and of course we

are busy, busy, busy... and the Lord has been so good to us...

We are looking forward to greater things..

I will post some pics soon...

Wow...

How long has it been...

Will update soon..

The Deception of Tragedy.....

Many times I have seen tragic things happen with no explanation as to why....but then when the tragedy has passed somehow the light of the sun begins to rim the dark clouds and soon they are gone away...and brightness and sunshine rule the day again...

It is the picture of our God...We don't understand the darkness of the clouds...but behind every dark cloud the sun is STILL shining...

Many times I didn't see it at the time...but tragedy becomes a testimony when folks are willing to trust God even when they can't see him....

I hope you are encouraged...

I took this picture from one of the first storms we had in OKC....

My Office....Good Music.....and SNOW!!!!

Hey Everybody...

Sorry for the lateness of posting lately....We are getting moved in and it's quite fun....unloading....unpacking.....repacking.....ummmm....you know what I mean....:)

I am sitting here in my office looking out the window as sheets of snow are blowing in at around 40+ miles per hour wind....FUN!!!!

Anyways I am back in action per say...

I hope your still encouraged...


Randy....

Happy New Year!!!!!

Happy New Year Everybody!!

I hope this year is a great blessing for you!!

We are entering into a month of Purpose with prayer, fasting and Bible reading for this New Year!!

Do your best to read the whole bible this year...

Get the Words of God planted in your heart so that your mind and your soul will grow and reap the harvest of what has been planted there!!

I will post more later...

btw.. We are moved into our new home...

Great Blessing and Hope is coming your Way!!

Be Encouraged...

Randy...

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas....

We are heading to Tulsa to celebrate Christmas with my parents this year....

I hope everybody has a Good Christmas...

Be Blessed and Encouraged...

Randy & Michelle... and the Boys!!!

Moving Soon...Into Our New Home!!!

Sorry for the late updates... We have been frozen in Time lately or so it seems...

Freezing rain....soon the snow is coming and we are closing on the house on the 27th of this month...


Here are some pictures...

Michelle's Truck...






Our Grass...



So you can see it's been cold around here...but we are doing fine!

Stay Encouraged!!

Randy...

On the Death of a Preacher...

The word came the old man had died.

The young pastor called everybody who was connected with the church and planned the funeral for the Elder who had pioneered the work. The town wasn't large but everybody knew the Man of God who had been there for them even when they weren't in his church. He had shouldered the church when it cried and danced when they rejoiced. He had worked to support his family and the church family when the funds weren't there. He had picked up kids for Sunday School and went to funerals for family members that weren't coming to church. He had loaned money to those who suffered tragedy and never asked for a penny in return. He had cried with mothers and with fathers who had lost their kids both physically and spiritually. He had rejoiced with the young as they would fill the altars after receiving what he was given by God to preach. He had watched as the church grew from infancy to adulthood but soon he realized he couldn't keep the pace he had once kept. Time began to catch up to him and soon his mind and body told him he had to let it go and give it another. He had searched diligently and finally found the young man who could keep his burden alive.

Sixteen years later he died alone in a rest home for the elderly. After his fifth year there his beautiful wife of forty years of marriage had gone on to be with the Lord. When he had first got there the visitors seem to never end but then as time waned they slowly trickled down to one or two. Time was still unkind to him as he battled different sickness's and illness during his time there and he passed away into the night and was received into glory.

When he woke up he looked down at his gnarled twisted hands and saw that wrinkles that were once there were now smooth and supple as young man's hands. He saw the great light and entered in. He looked at the Kingdom of Heaven and was overwhelmed by what he was seeing. He felt ashamed because he felt like he didn't belong there. He knew he wasn't worthy to see such a place because he had always been a humble man. There was an angel standing nearby and the Man of God went over to him and told him,

"I don't belong here".

The Angel looked at the man and asked him, "Why"?

The Man of God said, "I didn't do enough and got old to soon. Some of my visions for God were never realized and some of the goals and dreams I had of doing for God what I could weren't met and the Church never really grew the way I had planned for it to"

The angel smiled a knowing smile and said, "Come here and let me show you something".

The Angel walked over to the door of heaven and opened it and said, "Look down there".

The Man of God walked over and looked out the door as the angel opened it.

He saw the Earth and it was beautiful, he saw the clouds and the oceans and the lands as it was spinning slowly.

The Angel said, "Just keep watching"

And as the Man of God watched a little point of light would flicker and shine bright like a star and then another would do the same and another. One, two, ten, one hundred, two thousand and they keep flickering until there were to just many to count.

The Man of God looked quizzically at the Angel and said, "They are flickering in every state and all over the globe why am I seeing this"?

The Angel looked back at the Man of God and said, "Do you remember Johnny Webb and Pete Thompson and Susan Willoughby"?

The Man of God answered,"Yes, they were Sunday School kids I picked up and brought to church and they received the Holy Ghost"

The Angel said, "Every light you see across the Earth is a person who was filled with the Holy Ghost birthed from your Ministry"

The Angel Continued, "Johnny, Pete and Susan went on to become ministers and teachers and are still winning souls for the Kingdom of God and they are just three of the lives among the hundreds you touched by your ministry and there are thousands of lights flickering because of your work for the Kingdom of God".

The Man of God fell to his knees there on the banks of Heaven and was overwhelmed for a moment. He looked up and told the Angel, "I had no idea, I was just working for the kingdom".



So many times we only see what we see and never realize that the lives we touch can affect the world. The work that we do for God while feeling may never rise to the level we would like for it to may reach farther than our life may ever know. So many times we feel like we not doing enough or we can't see those goals met and yet God uses what we do to reach farther than time will ever allow us to see. And while this story is just using some imagination I do believe that our ministry is greater than who we are and farther reaching than we could ever imagine.

Stay Humble before God do what you can for the Kingdom and let God do what He does best.

Just some thoughts....

Randy

The Transition of Manhood....

Accepting responsibility is a big thing. Accepting responsibility when you are wrong is a greater thing. Responsibility is a heavy word we use when we are building people up and encouraging them to do better.

When a boy becomes a man at whatever age he begins to act responsible and accept responsibility. Sometimes it's not an easy thing to do, being responsible also means being accountable. So many times when trouble comes the easy way out is to blame others. Not accepting the responsibility that so often still falls on us. Many have capitalized blaming others so much until they are eaten up with bitterness and worry and have driven everybody else away.

It is human to make mistakes. Adam and Eve were born into a perfect world where there was peace and God communed with them daily. Walking together in the cool of the day with the Creator of the Universe and yet they were tempted and cast out because they made a mistake. Mistakes often times come with a heavy price tag. I've often wondered what God may have done if Adam instead of blaming Eve would have just accepted the responsibility of eating the forbidden fruit and apologized to God. But he didn't, he just blamed her and here we are.

I will tell you that God restored men through His great love for us. Complete forgiveness comes by repentance for the sins we have committed just by asking Him to forgive us. Accepting responsibility for our lives many times is the first step to overcoming whatever problems we may have.

Finding forgiveness in others often times is hard because our mistakes are farther reaching then we may think at the time. But if we do our part to accept responsibility and prove ourselves accountable to them then many times the relationship while not returning to what it may have been, can still be repaired enough to make it work.

The transition to Manhood often times is replete with mistakes and problems but complete when the boy understands he is responsible and the Man accepts that he is accountable. The transition is supposed to have mistakes and problems because without them we could not grow into what God wants us to be. Adversity while problematic and hard on us many times will shape us into who we are whether good or bad. That is what Life says. But there is a greater power than life at work in our lives and that is the Spirit of God. God will form us and shape us according to His will when we allow Him to work in our lives. He will not force himself on us but when we accept Him by receiving His Spirit into our heart and mind He goes to work and many times what life will try to destroy God will build a giant testimony of His Greatness through us so that our light shines before men in the darkness where they live.

Many have been made an overcomer or winner by allowing God to work through them by accepting the responsibility and growing into manhood versus retreating from it.

If today you are in the heat of a battle and you feel that you may not be winning it try accepting the responsibility for your life before God and repent of your sins and you will find yourself in transition from boyhood to manhood and let God do what God does best... Work in your Life today...

Just some thoughts... Be Encouraged....

Randy...

The Pen is Still Mightier than the Sword.....

The princes sat in stunned silence as the letter containing God's Word to his people was read. Baruch had delivered it to them and they had questioned him but he said that he had written it just the way Jeremiah had said to. It was a message from God to the people offering to deliver them if they would only repent and turn from their ways.

They had told Baruch they needed to read it to the King. He would be the one who needed to act and lead his people. It was a cold night and snow outside had become whitened by the moonlight. The King sat in front of the crackling fire as his servant Jehudi read the letter. The princes watched for him to show signs of shock or at least fear but he showed neither. As Jehudi read thru three or four pages the King took the scroll with God's Word and cut it with his knife and he would throw God's Word into the fire. The Princes shocked by his movements protested and and pleaded with the King to heed the Word of God but watched as the tender curls of green and blue heat flames rose from the parchment as it burned by the hearth where the King was warming himself.

The King and his servants showed no signs of respect, repentance or even fear at God's Words. They didn't rend their garments or show any emotion. They had been removed so long from God's presence the Word written had none effect on them thereby sealing their fate and their destiny in judgment and not mercy.

The sum of our lives will be defined by the choice we make to either heed the the Word of God or throw it into the flames of judgment sealing our destiny.
The simplicity of love defined is a forgiving God who will write into our lives mercy and hope if we will but heed His Word or a vengeful God who doesn't lie and will judge men according to same Word we could have found our salvation in.

Jesus stood on the roadside overlooking Jerusalem and tears ran down his cheeks caking on his face from the dust of travel and fatigue and he said these words, " Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Who kills the Prophets and stones them who is sent to you how often would I have gathered your children together as as a Hen gathers her chicks under her wings but you wouldn't listen" I wonder that as God if he didn't remember the burnt embers of His Word that were thrown in the fire burning mercy's only offer to those who only lived only for today and didn't care about their tomorrows.

Find sometime today to call on God and remember his Word, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

God will respond to us when we pray and humble ourselves before Him.

Hebrews 12
"Indeed, the Word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart."


Be Encouraged...

Randy

"The pen is mightier than the sword" is an adage coined by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839 for his play Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy.


Jeremiah 36
Chronicles 7:14
Luke 13